Floribunda Rose Plant Named &#39;SPROSUL&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Floribunda rose plant is provided which forms in abundance on a substantially continuous basis attractive semi-double cup-shaped blossoms that are primarily deep magenta pink in coloration. The vegetation is vigorous and strong and the growth habit is bushy and upright. Attractive ornamental medium green foliage with a glossy aspect on the upper surface is formed. The plant is particularly well suited for growing in a Western landscape. Excellent resistance to rust and mildews has been displayed during observations to date. Distinctive ornamentation is provided.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Floribunda Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Sprosul.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Floribunda rose plant of the present invention wascreated by artificial pollination that was carried out during the springof 2009 at Bakersfield, Calif., U.S.A., wherein two parents were crossedwhich previously had been studied in the hope that they would contributethe desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., seed parent) wasthe ‘Wekfabpur’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,623). The male parent(i.e., pollen parent) was an unnamed and unreleased seedling(non-patented in the United States).

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of Floribunda rose plant of thepresent invention possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

(a) abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractivecup-shaped semi-double blossoms that are primarily deep magenta pinkcoloration,

(b) exhibits a bushy and upright growth habit,

(c) forms vigorous vegetation,

(d) forms attractive ornamental medium green foliage with a glossyaspect on the upper surface,

(e) exhibits excellent resistance to rust and mildews, and

(f) is well suited for providing distinctive ornamentation.

A new rose variety is provided having distinctive deep magenta pinkblossoms, combined with substantially continuous blooming. The plant wasfound to rebloom well and displays an attractive vigorous upright andbushy growth habit. The intensity of the blossom color may vary somewhatdepending upon the growing conditions that are encountered.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industryparticularly when grown in the Western landscape an can be grown toadvantage as attractive ornamentation in parks, gardens, public areas,and residential landscapes. The deep magenta pink blossom colorationcontrasts nicely with the medium green foliage.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from previously knownFloribunda varieties. More specifically, the ‘Wekfabpur’ female parentforms dissimilar purple blossoms. Also, when compared to the‘Wekvossutono’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,473), it is observed thatthe ‘Wekvossutono’ variety is very double and commonly displays blossomshaving approximately 30 to 45 petals.

The characteristics of the new variety have been found to be homogeneousand stable and are strictly transmissible by asexual propagation by theuse of cuttings from one generation to another at Wasco, Calif., U.S.A.Accordingly, the new variety can be asexually reproduced in atrue-to-type manner.

The new variety has been named ‘Sprosul’, and will be marketed under theSULTRY SANGRIA trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character,typical blossoms and foliage of the new variety. The illustrated plantwas approximately two years of age and was growing outdoors during May2014 on its own roots in a container at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart-1995 Edition or equivalent).The description is based on the observation of two-year-old specimens ofthe new variety during June while growing outside in containers on theirown roots at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

-   Class: Floribunda.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—approximately 1.7 m when mature.        -   Width.—approximately 1 m when mature.        -   Habit.—bushy and upright.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—young stems: near Green Group 137C. — adult wood:            near Brown Group 200D.        -   Size.—main stems commonly are approximately 7.5 cm in length            on average, and secondary stems commonly are approximately            22.5 cm in length on average.        -   Thorns.—size: young thorns: commonly approximately 1 cm in            length on average, and approximately 6 mm in width on            average. — size: mature thorns: commonly approximately 9 mm            in length on average, and approximately 5 mm in width on            average. — color on young stems: near Yellow-Green Group            144B. — color on mature wood: near Yellow-Green Group 144B.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—a five-leaflet leaf commonly is approximately 10 cm in            length on average, and approximately 7.5 cm in width on            average. — general appearance: dark green.        -   Leaflets.—number: 3, 5, and 7. — shape: ovate with a serrate            margin. — texture (upper surface): glabrous and glossy. —            texture (under surface): smooth with a glossy upper surface.            — size: terminal leaflets commonly are approximately 5.5 cm            in length on average and approximately 3 cm in width on            average, and lower leaflets commonly are approximately 3 cm            in length on average and approximately 1.5 cm in width on            average. — color (young foliage): Yellow-Green Group 144A on            the upper surface, and Green Group143C on the under surface.            — color (fully mature foliage): commonly near Green Group            137A on the upper surface, and Green Group 137C on the under            surface.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—commonly in clusters of up to            approximately 3 to 7 blossoms per stem on average, and            commonly approximately 65 flowers on a plant at a given            time.        -   Peduncle.—smooth with short pubescence in texture, near            Green Group 143C in coloration, approximately 4 cm in length            on average, and approximately 2 mm in diameter on average.        -   Sepals.—number: five. — length: commonly approximately 1.8            cm on average. — width: commonly approximately 7 mm on            average. — margin: entire, and commonly two or three sepals            bear extensions of approximately 5 mm in length and            approximately 1 mm in width. — upper surface: near            Yellow-Green Group 147C, smooth, and covered with short            hairs. — under surface: smooth, and near Green Group 143B in            coloration.        -   Buds.—shape: ovoid. — length: approximately 2 cm on average.            — diameter: commonly approximately 1 cm on average. — color:            near Red-Purple Group 59A blending to near Yellow Group 4A            at the base.        -   Flower.—form: semi-double. — diameter: approximately 2.5 cm            on average. — shape: cup-like. — color (when opening            begins): upper surface: near Red-Purple Group 60B            transitioning to near Yellow Group 4D at the point of            attachment. under surface: near Red Group 63A transitioning            to near Yellow Group 4D at the base. — color (at end of            blooming): upper surface: near Red-Purple Group 72A            transitioning to near Yellow Group 4D at the point of            attachment. under surface: near Red-Purple Group 72B            transitioning to near Yellow Group 4D at the point of            attachment. — fragrance: light. — petal shape: obcordate. —            petal length: commonly approximately 2 cm on average. —            petal width: commonly approximately 2 cm on average. — petal            margin: entire and wavy. — petal apex: obcordate. — petal            base: rounded. — petal number: approximately 12 on average.            — petal drop: good, with the petals commonly dropping            cleanly and freely. — stamen number: approximately 75 on            average. — anthers: near Greyed-Orange Group 163A in            coloration. — filaments: near Yellow Group 11A in            coloration, and approximately 8 mm in length. — pollen:            commonly present in a moderate quantity, and near            Greyed-Orange Group 163A in coloration. — pistils: separate            and free, and commonly approximately 18 in number on            average. — stigmas: near Yellow Group 2B in coloration, and            approximately 1 mm in size. — styles: commonly near Yellow            Group 2B on the approximately bottom half and near            Red-Purple Group 60A on the approximately top half, and            approximately 1 cm in length. — receptacle: substantially            round in shape, smooth with short pubescence, achenes stand            on the bottom and wall, approximately 5 mm in diameter, and            near Yellow-Green Group 144A in coloration.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—dark green, vigorous and strong.        -   Blossoming.—abundant and substantially continuous from            spring to frost.        -   Resistance to diseases.—excellent with respect to rust and            mildews.        -   Propensity to form hips/seeds.—none observed at this time.        -   Hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 6 to 9.

Plants of the new ‘Sprosul’ variety have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in lightintensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmentalconditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Floribunda rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a)abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive cup-shapedsemi-double blossoms that are primarily deep magenta pink in coloration,(b) exhibits a bushy and upright grown habit, (c) forms vigorousvegetation. (d) forms attractive ornamental medium green foliage with aglossy aspect on the upper surface, (e) exhibits excellent resistance torust and mildews, and (f) is well suited for providing distinctiveornamentation; substantially as herein shown and described